Fumarolas de vapor, Rotorua

Get up close to spectacular geysers and colourful crater lakes, relax in a mud bath or enjoy a simple soak in a natural hot stream.

Te Puia, Rotorua

By Alistair Guthrie

Pohutu Geyser in Te Puia, Rotorua

By Shaun Jeffers Photography

Hells Gate, Rotorua

By Fraser Clements

Te Puia, Rotorua, Rotorua

By TNZ

Rotorua is a volcanic wonderland with extraordinary landscapes and incredible geothermal attractions - each with their own unique features, rare flora and fauna, and all rich in Maori history and folklore.

Sitting within the Pacific Rim of Fire, the region has one of the world’s most active geothermal fields. The legendary Pohutu Geyser in Te Puia, just five minutes from Rotorua city central, erupts to a height of 30m (100 feet) up to 20 times a day, and once erupted non-stop for more than 250 days! The unforgettable smell of sulphur, clouds of steam and volcanic activity are a natural part of life in Rotorua.

Enjoy breakfast on a Saturday morning at the Kuirau Park markets in the central city before taking a walk around the free thermal reserve which features beautiful public gardens, bubbling mud pools, colourful hot lakes, and free thermal foot pools.

Take a bike ride on the Te Ara Ahi – Thermal by Bike trail past four major geothermal attractions and stop along the way for a dip in a natural hot river. Or visit a Maori village where the people live amongst the geothermal activity and use the boiling water to cook, bathe and warm their homes.

Rotorua offers a range of options for swimming or relaxing in the magnificent thermal waters. Warm up in a natural lakeside hot pool, stand under a hot waterfall, or float under the Milky Way in a hot stream. The city also features a thermally heated public swimming pool, and a number of luxurious thermal spas.